Type in any movie or show to find where you can watch it, or type a person's name.

The Automat Poster

The Automat

Movie
2021
1h 19m
English
Documentary, History
The 100-year story of the iconic restaurant chain Horn & Hardart, the inspiration for Starbucks, where generations of Americans ate and drank coffee together at communal tables. From the perspective of former customers, we watch a business climb to its peak success and then grapple with fast food in a forever changed America.
Rating
WATCHMODE
8
IMDB
The Automat (2021) on IMDb
CRITIC SCORE
88

Where to watch

USA Streaming Sources
 
Max
 
Kanopy
 
Spectrum On Demand
 
HBO Via Hulu
Available in 0 other countries.
See something wrong? Let us know

My Friends' Ratings

In order to see what your friends rated The Automat, you need a Watchmode account. It's free and takes just a minute. Create an account
Directed By: Lisa Hurwitz
Written By: Michael Levine

Featured Comments/Tips

johnaccardo says...
one year ago
80 adorable minutes of old people explaining their lunch orders from the 50s and 60s. Highlights include the moment where Mel Brooks speculates about what they -may- have served for breakfast (since he only went for lunch and dinner), the scene where the director has to adjust Colin Powell's tie to cover up his shirt button, and when Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is asked what made it so special and she shrugs and says ""It was a good place to eat..... the food was good.... The prices were right""ù. Then it suddenly shifts to ""also fuck unions and the reason it failed was because of yucky homeless people""ù
Like  -  Dislike  -  Comment  -  000
miguelreina says...
2 years ago
A pleasant documentary about a chain of restaurants that shows the evolution of American society since the beginning of the 20th century, although it tends more towards nostalgic than towards the analysis of an era. With interviewees as diverse as Elliot Gould and Colin Powell, Mel Brooks' interventions are funny, even performing a song. It's less profound than it should be, but conveys warmth and honesty.
Like  -  Dislike  -  Comment  -  000
TKPNPodcast says...
2 years ago
Great documentary about an often forgotten cultural phenomena of the last mid-century. Fans of old movies certainly know of it, but there is a huge gap with young people that will be shocked to hear such things existed. Highly recommended.
Like  -  Dislike  -  Comment  -  000
TKPNPodcast says...
2 years ago
A double helping of nostalgia. Interesting and a subject I've always been fascinated in. I wish I understood more about the mechanics but that's a personal leaning for me.
Like  -  Dislike  -  Comment  -  000

Featured User Reviews

None of your fellow watchers have a review yet. Write Review

You might also like...

Streaming sources forIf Youre Not in the Obit Eat Breakfast
If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast
Streaming sources forHarold and Lillian A Hollywood Love Story
Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story
Streaming sources forMel Brooks Make a Noise
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Streaming sources forHemingway
Hemingway
Streaming sources forThe Toys That Made Us
The Toys That Made Us
Streaming sources forFive Came Back
Five Came Back
Streaming sources forBobby Kennedy for President
Bobby Kennedy for President
Streaming sources forBe Natural The Untold Story of Alice GuyBlach
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Bla...
Streaming sources forHow to Change the World
How to Change the World
Streaming sources forThe Cold Blue
The Cold Blue
Streaming sources forWait for Your Laugh
Wait for Your Laugh
Streaming sources forSisters with Transistors
Sisters with Transistors
Streaming sources forThe Lost Leonardo
The Lost Leonardo
Streaming sources for1971 The Year That Music Changed Everything
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
Streaming sources forMuscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals
Streaming sources forApollo 11
Apollo 11
Streaming sources forChallenger The Final Flight
Challenger: The Final Flight
Streaming sources forAbove and Beyond
Above and Beyond
Streaming sources forThe Sparks Brothers
The Sparks Brothers
Streaming sources forFacing Nolan
Facing Nolan
Streaming sources forRemembering Gene Wilder
Remembering Gene Wilder
Streaming sources forTurning Point 911 and the War on Terror
Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror
Streaming sources forThe Bomb
The Bomb
Streaming sources forThe Keepers
The Keepers
Streaming sources forWild Wild Country
Wild Wild Country
Back to Top